SaltThe north-western district of Salt has the lowest socio-economic level in Catalonia; according to a study by Idescat (Statistical Institute of Catalonia). To draw up the ranking, he divided Catalonia into census groups and, in the case of the town of Gironès, analyzed the streets in the Center district: from Carrer Major to Països Catalans, between Manuel de Falla and Marquès de Camps. When asking different people from Salta in this area for the reasons that place it in the lower part of the classification, the answer is different depending on its origin.
“I do not think we are poorer here than in other places. I don’t see any poverty, ”said Ebrima, who owns an African clothing and clothing store on Carrer Àngel Guimerà. And Mamadou, in charge of a phone booth on the same street, thinks similarly. “We are not poorer, the problem is that there are a lot of closed flats and people have nowhere to go,” he said.
On the other hand, Manel, who runs another business, believes that they have lower levels because “there is too much immigration, too much.” “They don’t work or spend in the village, they just go to their shops because they say they are afraid we will give them pork,” he added. Teresa, a tax consultant, has the same vision: “There is a lot of immigration, they have a lot of lack of resources; has been mismanaged. And now it would cost a lot of money to fix it and all the administrations are throwing balls out. ”
For Ana María, who is a hairdresser in a place on Doctor Ferran Street, the problem is not the percentage of immigration, but the conditions in which they have to live. “If you don’t have papers, you have to work illegally and occupy a flat, because they won’t let you work or live legally until two years later. In addition, we are only hired for jobs you don’t want, and for half the salary you would be paid. How do you want us not to be poorer? ”Laments the girl of Honduran origin.
For Jaspal, the owner of a hardware store and a supermarket on Carrer Torres i Bages, the problem is security. “Every week they come to steal from us and many take your knife away. It’s dangerous “, says the shopkeeper, who pulls out his mobile phone to show all the videos he has of thieves acting in his supermarket. The last one, just yesterday: a young man fills a bag with everything and even hides it inside his pants. The pictures show Jaspal’s wife catching his eye, but he runs away. “You go to the police and they tell you they can’t do anything. I also went there because some guys stole my cell phone and asked me for money if I wanted to get it back. I told them who the boys were and what they were doing to me, and they didn’t do anything! ”He laments.
At the beginning of 2000, the government began to develop the southern sector, with the creation of commercial estates, where multinationals and a shopping center were set up, the Espai Gironès. In addition, now we want to expand the urbanization of the sector taking advantage of the need to modify the general plan to cede the land of the future Hospital Josep Trueta. However, traders do not believe that it has any advantage. “When Espai Gironès opened, it hurt all the shops, because now everyone is going to buy there and they don’t come here. And if they do the Trueta, it’s the same; it will benefit the bar or restaurant next door, not us “, considers Roser, who is dependent on a bread oven.
“There is no coexistence, there is tolerance”
Of the 32,230 registered in Salt, 39% (12,421) are of foreign origin, according to Idescat. However, these figures only take into account regular people; those without papers do not appear on the records. The population, in just ten years, has gone from 6% to 42% of the immigrant population – if you compare the figures for 2000 and 2010. Basically for two reasons: in the 1970s many farmers sold their fields to developers, who erected new building blocks and then sold or rented at a low cost. The possibility of having a flat at an affordable price, next to a big city like Girona, plus the fact that newcomers usually go where they have friends or family, caused many new residents to arrive in a short time. At the same time, the people of Salta began to move to other towns, which increased the percentage of foreigners compared to nationals.
And this diversity is also evident in the shops, which at first glance differ for cultural or religious reasons. For example, there are bars with typical Moroccan tea and others with grilled meat, Catalan butcher shops or halals and supermarkets of large chains or specializing in South American or Hindu food. In fact, all the interviewees agree in pointing out that in Salt “there is no coexistence, but tolerance” between the different cultures that share the streets.
“Everyone goes to their shops, to their bars, and keeps their customs. Catalans with Catalans, Moroccans with Moroccans and South Americans with South Americans “, Ibrahim certifies. Josep agrees: “There is no relationship between us; they live there and we live here ”.
However, for other neighbors such as Andreu, who is from the fourth generation of people from Salta, it is not rich who has more money. “Here we have a fantastic library, here was born Bitó – which programs the Temporada Alta festival – and we have the most important concert hall in Girona, La Mirona. We may be the poorest economically, but we are the richest culturally, ”he says.